elsie item issue 80 dec 2012 - USS Landing Craft Infantry National ...

A Word from thePresident/EditorI need to begin with an apology to you for the lateness of this issue. It should havebeen out in October, but a series of events and concerns got in my way a bit morethan usual this time. Thank you for your patience. I’ll try to do better next time.It’s been a time when, with input from many of you, the Board has been wrestlingwith questions concerning the future of our association. Within the next two yearswe want to see the leadership transition to those of you who did not serve in LCIs during WWII, but, who, by theirnumbers and enthusiasm, promise a bright and strengthened association molded to serve their interests. No doubtmany of our “old timers” will be with us for many years, but remembering the LCI legacy certainly lies with this nextgeneration.The Transition Task ForceBetween now and our next reunion, which will be scheduled for the fall of 2013, a Transition Task Force [TTF],made up of our younger generation members already serving in leadership roles will be activated. The role of this TTFwill be, first of all, to nominate from their ranks the persons they want to move into the office of President and VicePresident. These nominees would take over at the Branson reunion and I, as outgoing President, would move into anadvisory role for the new President for the following year. John France, our present Vice President could advisehimself! The office of Treasurer, currently held by Hal Bleyhl, is an appointed office, so the TTF could do theappointing. Hal would continue in an advisory capacity for the following year.The other role of the TTF would be to think through and plan any changes they think should be made. They woulddeal with such questions as:• Do we want to continue with annual reunions?• Should Elsie Item continue in print format or move to an electronic publication?• Should the web page be continued as is or are there changes that should be made?• What does the financial future look like? Do we need to change our dues structure?These questions listed are not exhaustive but illustrative. The results of their deliberation could then be presentedat the time of the Branson reunion in the Fall of 2013.Parting Ways with the LSM/LSMR Association.Issues concerning the time and place of future reunions with the officers of the LSM/LSMR Association were suchthat, reluctantly, it was decided that we should go our separate ways in the future. We will try as hard as we can topromote attendance at future reunions to make up for the loss in numbers as a result of this separation.Planning for Two YearsAfter extensive discussion, The Board of Directors has decided to plan for the next two reunions and, in the process,make a decision about any future reunions after 2014. Consequently, the plan will be to hold our next reunion in the2 | ELSIE ITEM | December 2012